The Narendra Modi government today termed as "unfortunate" the move by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to return Rs5 crore given by Gujarat for the victims of Kosi floods.
"The decision is unfortunate," Gujarat health minister and government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas told reporters.
The flood relief assistance was given to Bihar by Gujarat government as a token of brotherly affection, Vyas
said.
Bihar government's move comes after local papers there carried advertisements last week about the help given by Gujarat government to Kosi flood victims.
Nitish had criticised Gujarat government's advertisements, terming it as "uncivilised" and had said that he would return the unused money.
The Bihar chief minister had also taken strong exception to the use of his photograph with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi in an another advertisement published in local dailies and had even threatened to take legal action against those responsible for it.
Gujarat government at that time denied that they had given the advertisements, saying Bihar migrants in Gujarat were responsible for publishing those ads.
